MLB
NLDS Game 4: Dodgers Eliminate the Braves
While Game 3 provided a glimpse of hope, it was just not meant to be as the Dodgers eliminate the Braves in 4 games. Game 4 proved that the Dodgers were just too much, overpowering the Braves in every category. The bats couldn’t be contained by the pitching staff. And the much more experienced Dodger pitchers were ready to go after the younger Braves hitters. But it’s not all doom and gloom for Atlanta.
Highlights
It was a tense back and forth game for at least a few innings. In the bottom of the 4th, it appeared Kurt Suzuki had a series defining moment, doubling in two runs to give the Braves a 2-1 lead at the time. But like the rest of the games before this, it would not be long before the Dodgers came roaring back. Started by October icon David Freese driving home two in the top of the 6th to give the Dodgers the lead again. The next inning it was Manny Machado putting the knife in the heart of Braves fans with a laser over the left field wall for a three-run bomb to give the Dodgers a four-run lead and a second straight trip to the NLCS and sending the young surprise of the year Atlanta Braves out of the Post Season.
A Look Back at the Braves NLDS Series
Offense
Overall, there are a lot of things that can be pointed to for the Braves’ 4 game elimination. The elimination was to be expected from a young team that was not supposed to be as successful as they were. It’s easy to point to the lack of offense. Back to back shutouts in Games 1 and 2; only 8 runs in 4 games, 6 of those coming in Game 3. The top of the order, lead by Acuña, not having a great series didn’t help much either. At a certain point though, you just have to tip your cap to the Dodgers rotation, especially Ryu and Kershaw.
Pitching
Some fingers can also be pointed at the Braves pitching. The Dodgers finished the regular season with the second most home runs in MLB. And boy did the Braves’ pitching staff prove that stat was not a fluke, allowing 8 home runs over the 4 games played. Along with the long ball came an enormous number of walks, leading to pitchers not going as deep as they should’ve and contributing to the overexposure of the bullpen.
At the end of the day though, sometimes all you can do is say you got beat by a better team. The Braves are a team that is good a lot sooner than they thought they would be. This is a team where their star player is 3 days younger than me. I’m currently planning on a Scott/Acuña joint 21st birthday. But my point is this team will only get better. And that is damn scary for the rest of the league. So for now while its a tough loss, the glory is soon to come to Atlanta again.
Photo credit to Casey Colomb via Flickr
